Weiser to play Bonners Ferry in first round of State tourney

The Lady Wolverines have had a successful 2022 volleyball season and secured their place in the 3A Idaho State Volleyball Tournament with a first round Snake River Valley (SRV) Conference win over the McCall-Donnelly Vandals, but the SRV champion honors were still undetermined until last week when the Lady Wolverines traveled to the home of the Fruitland Grizzlies for the championship match.  

 The Grizzlies had bested the Lady Wolverines in both of their regular season matches, but hardware and bragging rights were on the line. However, although the Lady Wolverines fought hard and took the match to four sets and the scores beyond the requisite 25-points, the Grizzlies came out with the top honors. The Lady Wolverines fell in four sets, 13-25, 26-28, 25-20, and 24-26.

 The first set was a slow go for the Lady Wolverines, falling behind 3-9 almost immediately. They rallied back with Madi Wilkins serving to 7-10, but progress was slow for the rest of the set, and the Grizzlies took the win 25-13.

 The Lady Wolverines found some energy in the second set and took an early 9-7 lead. The Wolverines and the Grizzlies played great on both sides of the net with long rallies, hard hits, and big saves, trading point for point to the bitter end. Unfortunately, the Grizzlies squeaked-out the second set win 28-26.

 Needing a win to stay in the match and prevent a sweep, the Lady Wolverines dug deep into their bag of tricks and stayed focused.  The Lady Wolverines took an early lead and stayed in the driver’s seat for the remainder of the set, taking a necessary 25-20 third set win.

 With some wind in their sails, the Lady Wolverines started out the fourth set again with an early lead. Both squads were relentless when it came to keeping the ball in play. The points were traded back-and-forth and there was no big lead for either side, but sadly, once again the Grizzlies came out the victors with a 26-24 win in the fourth set and the match 3-1.

 Senior middle blocker, Mattie Shirts, led the Wolverines with 7 kills, while Jasi Yraguen, Paisley Noyer, and Kamryn Doty combined for 15 kills at 5 kills apiece.  Noyer and Doty also added 6 blocks.  Bailey Coleman had 16 digs, while the Wilkins sisters, Abi and Madi added 12 digs apiece.  Wilkins also had 15 assists.

 The Lady Wolverines head into the 3A State Tournament this week as the third seed behind Fruitland and Kimberly. 

 Their first match of the tournament will be against number sixth ranked Bonners Ferry at Ammon High School in Eastern Idaho on Friday, Oct. 28 at 11 a.m.